Orifice nebulizer



June 18, 1957 B. L. MGKINNON omnes NEBULIZER Filed OCT.. 18. 1954 isbili BAIN L. MC KINNON 1N V EN TOR.

2,196,295 Patented Ju'ne 1-8, 1957 United States Patent fice ORIFICE NEBULIZER Bain L. McKinnon, Seattle, Wash.

Application October 18, 1954, Serial No.462,906 9 claims. (ci. 29e- 885) This present invention contemplates .the provision of an orifice type nebulizer of simple construction which is 'a device for the production of fine spray or aerosol but further characterized by having integral means for separating from the primary spray the coarse particles produced therein, and discharging only the classified spray of fine aerosol. bodying as the above mentioned means of separation an orifice,.as outlet from a spray chamber.

If, in such a device, primary spray is produced within achamber and air is forced intov this chamber and to exit through a small orifice, then if such orifice be shielded from direct impingement of the spray, or .otherwise be protected from accumulation of liquid, then .only those particles of the spray `which are small enough -tO freely circulate within the chamber and do not condense on impact with its walls, will pass through the exit orifice. Practical utilization of this principle demands that two conditions be well satisfied: l(.1) that the exit orifice be maintained free .of liquid accumulation, `and (2) thatthe primary spray be such as to ,contain ahighly usable portion of fine particles.

, It should be noted that the requirement that Vthe voutlet, when an orifice, be maintained free of liquid accumulation, is at divergence with common ,practice in which no thought is given to this factor, but the vfundamental limitation of liquid bridging to close the port is @overcome by simply providing that the outlet be of sufficiently large size so that it will under no condition tend to bridge over.

As means of producing a suitable primary spray, the device contemplates the employment of a plurality of substantially axially aligned orifices, each of which discharges into a restrictive chamber to the .end that maximum turbulence can be created which in turn will break up the projected liquid into very tiny particles and finally into an air borne mist within the chamber. The yfinal discharge is out through a relatively small orifice which is at Athe apex of an inwardly directed cone .to the end that larger particles Vof liquid will be deflected by the conical surface away from the orifice but will `be Vretained within the nozzle assembly for `re-atom-ization when the bulb is squeezed at future times. Means are provided so that the nozzle .forms a leakproof arrangement and thus permits the carrying of the filled device in a hand bag or ones pocket, or it may be used in bed, as tucked under the pillow, for instance. To achieve the .over-all purposes of `this device, a plurality of concentrically disposed kunits are .employed so as vto lprovide liquid storage and to .cause the turbulence required `and to further provide receiving space for the globules of liquid which have not been broken down into the desired vfineness of spray. l

-:Persons suffering from asthma and sinus troubles find it necessary that they 'have available means for giving them `'needed relief and such a device therefore must vbe capable of .,being conveniently carried von -the person,

This invention is of 'a nebulizer emready to use at all times. In the past, a large number of devices have been provided in an endeavor to practically serve this convenience. Those observed however have been bulky and hard to carry, but most often were provided with screw-on closures and the like, which necessitated considerable loss of time between the instant of need before the device could be `put into operation. ln the case of asthma sufferers particularly, this was by no means a practical solution of the problem. In my presentl device, I provide a very compact unit which may be carried fully charged, but without any need for removing any Stoppers or caps or covers. In other words it is ready for instant use at any time. Means are provided within the nozzle device so that no matter in what position the Vdevice is carried the liquid is contained within an annular chamber and it is Aimpossible f or the unit to leak.

The leakproofng of this device is -achieved with the small orifices used, and their number, and particularly in the final discharge orifice, which is mounted in the apex of an inwardly `extending cone portion so that an annular ring is provided entirely around the final `discharge orifice which is sufficient in volume `to hold the liquid with which the vdevice is normally `charged. It `is therefore believed that in this present orifice nebulizer 4 I jhave provided a solution for rmany of the perplexing problems and have thus made available for use a device so badly needed when one is an `acute sufferer, and which makes relief immediately available when .one suffers intensely from any of the respiratory ills.

The principal object of my present invention therefore is tofprovide a simple and inexpensive nebulizer which caribe made in a small size and still not sacrifice a-ny of its desirable aspects.

A further object is to provide a vgood primary spray device which with'the addition .of a nebulizer chamber and a small discharge opening becomes a true nebulizer.

AA further object of rthis ,invention is to provide an orifice nebulizer which needs no Stoppers or caps or the like .to prevent it from spilling, .or which will necessitate the removal of these closure devices, before it .is put into use as by a suiferer'in immediate need, or `by `small children who might not understand the workings of a complicated device.

A further object of this present device is to provide a nebulizer vthat is readily adaptable `to several distinct uses so that it may be readily yconformed to the-discharge of different types of medicaments required for `the treatment of various ills,

A further, and very important object of this invention, is to provide a ydisintegator jet which will produce' avery fine primary ,spray and Yone in which the relative ,sizes of the plurality of orifices may be varied to sui-t a wide range of applications.

'Further objects, advantages and capabilities -will be apparent from the description and disclosure .in the drawings, or may be comprehended or are inherent in .the device.

In the drawings: l

, Figure l 'is a perspective view illustrating mydevice in apreferredform;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device of Figure l with certain parts broken away, and sectioned, `to ,more fully illustrate the construction thereof; f

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken Aon a diameter through the nozzle portion of this nebulizer, the same being shown on an increased scale; Y Figure 4 .is a cross sectional view taken along :the line 4'-4 of Figure 35 Figure 5 is van y.enlarged perspective view, partly in section, Villustrating the relatively small internal -cajp em-` ployed to provide an additional orifice and `to separate the one. relatively large turbulent chamber into two such dhambers.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings, the numeral illustrates the base member of the nebulizer. This is provided with a tapering plug-like portion 12 so that it may be engaged frictionally tight in lthe mouth of preferably a seamless hand bulb as 14. The 'seamless type of hand bulb is much more durable than the kind that is made in two or more parts and then joined together. They do have one characteristic, however, and that is, in order to withdraw the forming tools, the neck sizes are considerably larger than the usual vseamed bulbs. This factor, however, instead of being detrimental, works to the advantage of this nebulizer in l that it is desirable to have considerable diameter to the plug portion 12 for reasons that will be explained in 'some detail. Formed as part of base 10 is a concentric upwardly extending discharge tube portion 16 which usually is made somewhat tapering forming a jet discharge passageway. At its upper end tube 16 is sub stantially closed and is provided with the cone portion as r18, at the free end or apex of which, is a small, diverging jet, sharpened discharge orifice 20. It is to be noted that by having the cone portion 18, the orifice 20 is provided with very thin walls. This construction, following the principle of the flow of a fluid through an orifice, discharges a diverging jet, which in coaction with the other, follows out the principles of this present invention. On its periphery, base 10 is provided with an annular lip 22k which provides the annular groove 24. On the inner wall of groove 24 are provided threads as at 26. Similarly threaded as at 28 is the cap portion 30 of the nebulizer. It will be noted in Figure 3 that as cap 30 is screwed down on threads 26, the lower fit portion 32 of the cap cornes into a firm arrangement in the annular groove 24, and thus any leakage that might normally occur between threads 26 and 28 is sealed off by the pressure contact, as iat 34, which is of course an annular contact arrangement.

Between the inner surface of plug portion 12 andthe tubular portion 16 is an annular cavity 36 forming a liquid reservoir and this is made sufficient in its extent so that the deliveryporifice member 4t) may be engaged in a tight frictional engagement with the tapering outer wall of tube 16. It is furtlher desirable that the downwardly extending wall 42 of member 40 only takes up a portion of the annular cavity 36. This can be substantially in the proportion illustrated in Figure 3 so that a reasonable storage capacity is provided for liquids that may have passed through the first three orifices and not have passed through the final, small, narrow walled orifice 44 in cap member 30. In order that `additional storage space may be obtained for these liquids, the upper portion of cavity 36 is enlarged and tapered asis illustrated at 46 in Figure 3. It is to be noted that this chamber capacity mus-t be large enough to contain the entire charge of liquid at the time of filling the same.

In the interior of wall 42 of member 40 is provided a plurali-ty of fiuid passageways as 48. It will be noted in vFigure 4 that three such passageways are indicated. The upper end of member is conical in form and the inner surface of the same is also of conical form but of less angle so that where the discharge orice is formed, the walls have converged so that a lip type orifice is provided. This construction is well illustrated in Figure 3.

Disposed on Vtop of, and concentric with tube 16, is an insert orifice member 60. .The structure of this member is best illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 in which it will be noted that the outer surface 62 .of the member is chamfered out or beveled at 64 so Vas to form an annular passageway when the insert is contained within member 40. This annular passageway communicates with a plurality of radially disposed grooves 66 so that a path is provided for fiuids through a plurality of channels 48 to the annular communicating passageway formed by bevel 64 and, finally, the fluid can pass through the slots 66 into the interior 68 of the insert orifice member. A discharge orifice is provided at '70, and while the top of the insert as 72 is flat or normal to the axis of the member, the interior end wall as 74 tapers upwardly to orifice 70 so that a thin wall orifice is thus provided.

The final discharge orifice 44 follows the same general plan of providing a thin-walled orifice. To this end it will be noted that the inner surface 80 of shielding cone 82 is so formed as to run out to a minimum thickness where orifice 44 is formed. Attention is particularly directed to the form of the discharge tube 84 which forms a vapor outlet passageway. @This is provided with a fiaring outwardly tubular portion and the walls are so lformed as to extend well into cavity 86 formed by cap 30. This has a desirable function in the forming of the fine discharge mist, but it has a further desirable characteristic in that, even though quite a bit of liquid is contained wi-thin the chamber 86, and the device is tipped upside down, the liquid cannot flow out of tube 84 due to the annular storage chamber 85.

Mode of operation In preparing for employment of this device, it is filled with liquid to a level not exceeding the capacity of either of the annular chamber 36 or 85. In use bulb 14 is squeezed as by finger pressure and normally air is projected out through tube 16. There is a syphon effect as tlhe air passes out through tube 16 and it picks up liquid from the capillary passageways 48 and then the same are discharged in a diverged spray through tube or orifice 70 into the turbulence chamber 90. This is a relatively small chamber and -the fiuids in emulsion form are passed out through the orifice 70 into a second turbulence chamber 94 and in so doing a further stage of dispersion occurs. This chamber is likewise small and the emulsion is continued with a high liquid to air ratio. The emulsion then is passed out through an orifice 50 as a second stage of dispersion into the large primary chamber 86. Although insert member and delivery orifice member 40 as shown form the preferred construction, broadly they constitute partition means forming first and second small ftubulence chambers 90, 94 having third and fourth small, narrow walled orifices 70, 50.

The highest velocity portion of the spray, which is the central portion of the jet, impinges upon the conical surface 82. As will be noted in Figure 3, orifice 44 is very small in comparison with the conical surface, consequently a relatively small portion of the direct jet will pass out through the orifice and the larger globules of liquid which may have passed through the three former jets, as projected from orifice S0, Will impinge upon the conical surface 82 and be carried away from the vicinity of orifice 44. Orifice 44 therefore will normally have as its fiuid only the very finely divided particles of liquid and the air which is carrying the same. The jet or syphon effect, however, carries with it the mist that has been caused by turbulent action within nebulizerchamber 86 so that the type of discharge out through the discharge tube 84 will be a very finely divided aerosol and the larger globules of liquid will adhere to the inner wall of chambers 86 and will gravitate down to the reservoir chamber 36.

The fineness of the liquid vapor projected by the nebulizer will be a function largely of the diameters of the various orifices when they are made after the showings in this instant case. In the treatment of asthma, for instance, where a very fine vapor is desired, a satisfactory range of sizes is to have orifice 44 of a diameter of .O5 in-ch, orifice 50 of a diameterr of .03 inch, the diameter of the disintegrator jet 92, .O35 inch, and orifice or tube 20, .02 inch. The physical properties of the liquid being dispensed govern to a degree the atomizing of that liquid,

and for different types of liquid, and less urgent require? ments for finely divided discharge sprays, these openings may be enlarged and will thus pass `out a greater amount of liquid. However it follows that the liquid will not be in as finely divided form. There are many users, however, where this is not detrimental. y

When the discharge has been made and the pressure released upon bulb 14, there will be a suck back vby the bulb which must of course bring in enough air to displace the volume ofthe air and liquid dispensed. This suck back tends to clean out any liquid arrested in or about outlet orifice 44. The return of liquid to the liquid storage well 36 is further assisted byproviding a fiat base as 88 for bulb 14 so the device will normally be stored in a vertical position.

When the bulb 14 has returned to its normal form there will be no tendency for the liquid within the device to of its own volition pass out through the nebulizer. It is desirable however that the diameter of the orifices be not increased beyond the size where the particular liquid to be used will bridge over the openings. This bridging effect makes full use of the surface tension of the liquid and greatly assists in preventing any leakage of the liquid from the device. If the device .is going to be stored for any period, or is to be carried where the discharge tube 84 might become contaminated, it may then be desirable to employ some form of stopper .in the outlet or discharge tube 84. Such a stopper, lhowever, is not required to prevent the leakage of liquid, it is merely a sanitary aid.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the above description and the disclosure in the drawings that the invention comprehends a novel construction of an orifice nebulizer.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

l. A nebulizer, comprising: an annular base having a depending tapered hollow plug and a seamless hand bulb with a 'mouth fitted on said plug; said base having an upstanding discharge tube formed by a return bend from the bottom of the walls of said plug and having upwardly tapered inner and outer walls and defining an annular cavity between the adjacent walls of discharge tube and plug forming a reservoir for fluids, said discharge tube having at its upper end a first sharp-edged, diverging jet discharge orifice, a delivery orifice member formed by an inverted thimble with upwardly tapered inner walls pressed on said discharge tube and with a domed, convexo-concave base spaced above the upper end of the discharge tube and having in its apex a second small narrow-walled orifice, a cap-shaped insert orifice member disposed in said thimble and having an upper c base with a third thin-walled orifice and defining below the base of the insert member a first turbulence chamber and providing above the base of the orifice member and below the base of the thimble a second turbulence chamber, liquid passageway means from said reservoir to said first turbulence chamber, said base having at its upper outer edge an upwardly open annular groove with threaded inner walls and an inverted cup-like cover having its lower edge fitted in said groove with its inner surface threadedly engaged with the threads of the groove and with its outer wall pressed against the outer wall of the groove sealing the assembly, `said cover defining a large chamber above said thimble and having in its top an inwardly flanged discharge passageway with an inwardlydirected conical inner end terminating in an orifice discharge opening facing said discharge tube.

2. A nebulizer, comprising: an annular base having a depending hollow plug and a hand bulb with a mouth fitted on said plug, said base having an upstanding discharge tube formed by a return bend from the bottom of the walls of `said plug and defining an annular cavity between the adjacent walls of discharge tube and plug forming a reservoir for fluids, said discharge tube having at its upper end a first small discharge orifice, a delivery orice member formed by an inverted thimble disposed on said discharge 'tube and with the base .of the thimble spaced `above the upper end of the discharge tube and having in said 4base a second small orifice, a cap-shaped insert orifice member disposed in said thimble and having an upper base with a third orifice and defining below the base of the insert member a first turbulence chamberA and providing above the base of the insert member and below the base of the thimble a second turbulence chamber, liquid passageway means from said reservoir to said first turbulence chamber, an inverted cup-like cover having its lower edge secured to the upper portion of said base and defining a large chamber above said discharge tube and having in its top an inwardly fianged discharge passageway terminating in an orifice discharge opening.

3. A nebulizer jet assembly, comprising: an annular base having a hollow plug ,to be attached to a hand bulb, said base havingan upstanding discharge tube formed by a return bend from the bottom of the wall of said plug and defining an .annular cavity between the adjacent walls of discharge tube and plug forming a 'reservoir for fluids, said discharge tube having at its upper end a first sharpedged, diverting jet discharge orifice, a delivery orifice member formed by an linverted thimble fitted on said discharge Atube and -with ya domed, conveXo-concave base spaced -above the upper end of the discharge tube and having in its apex a second ,small narrow-walled orifice, a cap-shaped insert orifice member disposed in said thimble and having an upper base with'a third thin-walled orifice Kand defining below the base of the insert member a first turbulence chamber and providing above the' base of the insert member and below `the base ofthe thimble a second turbulence chamber, said thimble and discharge tube having formed therebetween -an upright liquid passageway leading from said reservoir to said insert member, said insert member having its lower, outer edge recessed forming an annular liquid passageway in communication with said upright passageway and having la plurality of radial passageways from said annular passageway to said first turbulence chamber for supplying liquid thereto.

4. A nebulizer jet assembly, comprising: an annular base having outer walls and an upstanding discharge tube inside of the outer walls forming a reservoir for fluids between the outer walls and discharge tube, said discharge tube having at its upper end a first discharge orifice, a delivery orifice member formed by an inverted thimble disposed on said discharge tube and with the base of the thimble spaced above the upper end of the discharge tube and having a second small orifice, a cap-shaped insert orifice member disposed in said thimble and having an upper base with a third orifice and defining below the base of the insert member la first Iturbulence .chamber and providing above the base of the insert member and below the base of the thimble a second turbulence chamber, and liquid passageway means from said reservoir to said first turbulence chamber.

5. A nebulizer, comprising: a nebulizer body having means at one end portion forming a jet discharge passageway and having means at an opposite end portion forming a vapor outlet passageway and having a hand bulb operatively connected to said jet discharge passageway, said body having formed adjacent said jet discharge passageway a liquid reservoir, said jet discharge passageway having at its inner end a first small, diverging-jet sharpened orifice and said outlet passageway having a second small, narrow Walled orifice and partition means in said body forming third and fourth small, narrow walled orifices between the firs-t and second orifices and defining a first small turbulence chamber between said jet discharge passageway and said third orifice and defining a second small turbulence chamber between said third and fourth orifices and providing a primary chamber larger than the capacity of said first Iand second turbulence chambers between the fourth orifice and said second orifice, and said body having liquid passageway means extending from said awww,

liquid `reservoir to saidv tirs-t small turbulence chamber, said oriicesbeing aligned and said body being unobst'ructedfon the line between said orifices. Y

t 6. -A nebulizer for a liquid, comprising: a nebulizer bodyV having at one end a jet discharge passageway and havingy at the otherend a vapor outlet passageway and having air supply vmeans operatively connected to said jet discharge passageway, said body having formed therein a liquid reservoir; said jetfdisch'arge passageway having at lits inner en'd a tirs-t small orifice and said outlet passageway having a second small orice and partitions means in Vsaid body forming third landV fourth lsmall orices intermediate the jet disch-arge and vapor outlet passageways and generally aligned therewith and dening a first small turbulencechamber between said jet 'disch-arge passageway and. said third oriceand 'dening a second small turbulence chamber Vintermediate said third and fourth orices and providing a primary chamber larger than the capacity of said rstand second turbulence chambers intermediate the fourth orice and said second orifice, said orifices being of a small size bridgeable by said liquid, and said body yhaving liquid passageway means extending from said liquid reservoir to said rst small turbulence chamber.

7`. A nebuli'zer for a liquid, comprising: a nebulizer body `having a jet discharge opening at one end and a vapor outlet opening at the other end and a hand bulb connected to'said jet discharge opening in free communication therewith, said body having partition means forming ay small turbulence chamber over said jet discharge opening and forming a large primary chamber in the area of said vapor outlet opening, said partition means having a small intermediate orifice connecting said turbulence and primary chambers, means forming a reservoirin said body and forming a liquid passageway from the reservoir to adjacent said jet discharge opening, means forming-a sharpened, diverging-jet orice for said jet 'discharge opening, and means forming an inwardly-directed,v conical shield for said vapor outlet opening having a small orice at its apex of a size bridgeable by s-aid liquid.

8. A nebulizer for a liquid, comprising: a housing forming `a chamber having a discharge opening and hav ing spaced from said 'discharge opening jet means, said jet means having a jet discharge passageway and manually operable means to produce a mixed air liquid stream directed from said passageway toward said chamber and including a partition member covering said passageway having an orifice in axial alignment with said passageway through which said stream must lpass to reach said chamber, said orifice being of a small size bridgeable by said liquid.

9. The subject matter of claim 8 in which said jet passageway terminates in a restricted orice whereby said stream must pass la plurality of orifices to reach said chamber.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,997V Curry sept, 3, 1946 2,432,660 v Curry Dec. 16, 1947v FOREIGN PATENTS 15,161 Australia Nov. 14, 1933 566,159 Great Brit-ain Dec. 15, 1944 

